Silent Valley Heritage Trail - Kilkeel

Start : The route begins in the Silent Valley Mountain Park main car park reached through the gates on the Head Road on the south side of the Mournes. (BT34 4PU)
Stone way-markers are in place to help guide you. Follow the blue arrows for the Challenge Trail.

(S/E) From the main car park you will pass the “Mourne Hand” art sculpture, follow the path past the duck pond on your left-hand side and on towards the main visitor servicing area. En route, you will pass an original Watertown House as well as the memorial which commemorates the men who sadly lost their lives during the building of the dams.

(1) Walk on past the café and climb the steps, which take you past the Interpretive Centre. Visit the centre to learn more about the unique history associated with the park. Continue on past the visitor centre North. Continue along the path uphill and join the road which leads up to the lower dam wall of the Silent Valley reservoir.

(2) The trail then goes left (West) and takes you along the embankment to the other side.

(3) Turn left (South) and follow the way-markers to make your way past Sally Lough on your left-hand side until you reach the start of the Nature Trail. From here, turn left (East) then right after 100m and make your way back towards the main car park after crossing Kilkeel River. (S/E)

Start : The route begins in the Silent Valley Mountain Park main car park reached through the gates on the Head Road on the south side of the Mournes. (BT34 4PU)
Stone way-markers are in place to help guide you. Follow the blue arrows for the Challenge Trail.

Driving to start : The Silent Valley is sign posted for drivers travelling south from Newcastle and north from Kilkeel.

Parking : Silent Valley Mountain Park, Head Rd, Ballymartin, Newry (BT34 4PU) There is an entrance fee.

Terrain : Easy well laid paths

Public Transport : During the summer months, Translink operate the Mourne Rambler Service- a circular route that stops at the gates of the Silent Valley. More information can be found on the Translink website here.

Facilities : Toilets and refreshments are available during summer months and public holidays at Silent Valley restaurant and information centre or in nearby Kilkeel. Disabled parking and toilets

Dog Policy : Must be kept on a lead.

Report a problem on this route here.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

• Silent Valley Reservoir
• Watertown
• Granite quarry and natural heritage

(A) The Mourne Wall was constructed to enclose a catchment area of the Silent Valley Reservoir in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland. The 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high stone wall, which was built to keep livestock from contaminating water supplies, took almost twenty years to complete (1904 to 1922). The project was overseen by the Belfast City and District Water Commissioners.

Public Art Piece – “The Mourne Hand” incorporates the story of stone, water and the resilient, skilled men
of Mourne who built the dam with “hands like shovels”.

Memorial Commemorating the men who tragically lost their lives in the construction of the reservoirs.